The Forrest City times., 1887-11-12
EIGHT DEAD!
And Another Victim Dying at the
 City Hospital.
Terribls Loss of Life csussd by this Morn
 nI~rts ExpIosion-


 sIrg's Explosion
 ST. LOUIS, Nov. l.-Eariy this morn ing, at an hour when 500, 900 people lay sleeping, needless of danger, horror burst upon the city such as has not been equaled here in years. In moment of time the work was done which sent eight souls to their lsst ac- count and threatened the lives of hun dreds of hell bless men, women and chill ] dren. What the destroying agent was is mystery that may never be solved. It wrecked Sl0,000 worth of property and mangied the bodies of ten human beings, almost wiring one large family out of existence. Added to the horror of explosion and wreck was fire, which sprang from the ruins and feasted on the bodies of the dead and the dying. The crowd that collected at the scene knew no more about the cause of the disaster when morning broke and made visible the scene of the wreck than they did before. They only knew that there had been an explosion--an awful explo- sion followed by death and disaster Whether it vas caused by gas or gaso- line, dynamite or powder, they could not tell and theory will probably take the place Of fact forever In the solution I Of tho mystery. It may be that there is concealed In the story a dynamite mystery in which more persons are in- | volved than those who lost their lives last night.
 THE EXPLOSION.
 At 2 o'clock this morning Police Sergeant Hennessey, walking his regular beat, passed along Fourteenth street just south of Market street, on the west side. The neighborhood, al- ways . quiet one, was apparently l sleeping. Lights were out, and nc sound but the hurrying footsteps of a belated pedestrian marred the perfect stiffness of the night. The sergeant rapped with his locust and passed on. Tho street was deserted. Tho moon- beams fell on rows of old and battered tenemcnts and stores of brick and frame on either side of the broad, well-paved street. On the west three doors south of Market street, stood . handsome row of two-story buildings of pressed brick with neat stone trimmings. The windows of the second floors of each were curtained and shut in. Dewn-stairs were stores. three of which were empty. The fourth had in its windows samples of the stock of groceries kept, as the sign over the door indicated, by Michael Newman. At nine minutes past ? o'clock peace and quiet reigned In the little row of buildings, the first of which was occupied by Michael New man. At ten minutes past o'clock, where stood the row of neat brick buildings, lay . mass of broken timber, mortar and brick, while all about it the air WAS filled with flying bits of splintered wood. glass, brick and stone. A loud roar accompanied and followed the explosion. With the heavy sound of the explosion came the cracking Of | wood and stone, and the sharp sound of shattered windows. eoumn of de- bris rose into the air, then fell, carrying with it the whole Of the Newman | house. Front wall, aide wall. roof and floor fell crashing into the basement while on the south. the next building | to Newman's, fell inward, leaving the front wall standing, but carrying with 1t the side wall of the third building, one half of which joined in the general l wreck. A cloud of dust rose like smoke or steam from the midst of the ruin and hung over 1t for moment. Then, 1 as a passing breeze carried it toward the north and west, bright flames broke ! out from the midst of the ruins, in the ! rear of the Newman house, and lighted | up the scene of horror with a rcd and yellow glow.
 The dull roar and the shock of the | explosion awoke thousands of people in all parts of the city.
 IN THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBoRHooD of the disaster sleepers were thrown | plaster from their shaken ceilings. The earth trembled, buildings rocked, and windows were shattered into frag- ments. Far from the scene, anywhere within the radious of mile, buildings trembled and shook, and nervous peo- pie sprang from their beds fearful that an earthquake was passing. As the sound of the explosion died away, the fire bells rang out an alarm from box
 No. 53, Market and Fifteenth streets.
 It had been turned in by Officer Dan o'Connor, who had at the same time Fire Company No. l<. on Market street. near Fifteenth street. Before the dust had cleared away from the wreck the firemen were on the scene and a stream of water was playing on the flames. The police within half A mile of the
 wreck and every late pedestrian who heard the sound had run to the scene.
 Michael Newman, his wife, Annie Newman, two sons, John and Edward,
 and one daughter, Katie, are among
 the dead. Newman had been a pork
 packer but for the last nine years kept grocery at No. l9 South Fourteenth
 street, removing to No. less than
 month ago. He was 55 years old and
 native Of St. Louis. as were all the
 members of his family.
 c. N. Devere, who lived with his
 wife and sister-in-law, Mrs. Beasley, at No. South Fourteenth street, was a snowman. He had travelled with all of the great shows Of the country, but hiA last engagement had with Monroe & French's ten-cent circus. He was born at Henderson, Ky, and his friends understand that his family, who live in Kentucky, are well-to-do. He was ex- tremely methodical In his habits, keep ing an accurate account of all his pri- yate expenditures and various matters connected with his personal history.